Late Merah’s Family: “We’re victimized by French right-wing circles in France”

The Algerian father of late Mohamed Merah has said in a statement to “Echorouk” that he and the other members of his family are currently the targets of unflagging harassment and ill-treatment by the French authorities at the prodding of the far-right circles in France.

In this connection, the father of Mohammed Merah has recently been  denied  the renewal of his French residence card by the Toulouse prefecture in south-western France, according to reliable sources . 

The same source says that if Mohammed Benalel Merah still resides in France, his situation is now “illegal”.

The prefecture has not commented the decision.

The father of Mohammed Merah is currently residing in an apartment at Toulouse. Reports say that Mohammed Benalel Merah was seen by witnesses and then contacted by an officer of the judicial police anti-terrorism branch.

After having made a request on March 17, Mohamed Benalel Merah was notified of the refusal of renewal of his residence card a month before the end of its validity, on 9 April.

The authorities have justified the refusal on the lame grounds that the man would be “rather be settled in Algeria”.

Shortly after the attacks in Toulouse by his son in March 2012, Mohammed Benalel Merah had lodged a complaint for “murder” against the Raid intervention force, judging that his son had been “eliminated”.

He then assured have videos made by his son with his phone during his last moments, proving his assertions.

Late Mohamed Merah’s sister Souad Merah was also reportedly victimized by security services as she was taken into custody in April on suspicion that she blessed her brother Mohamed, 23, ahead of the killing spree– in March 2012.

Mohamed Merah died after being shot by police following a prolonged stand-off at the apartment block where he lived.

Algerian lawyer Zahia Mokhtari told afterwards reporters she had been hired by the dead man’s father, Mohammed Benalal Merah, to press charges against French police for shooting him dead.

“Mr Merah thinks that his son was murdered. He has asked us to file a complaint against the French security services,” she said..

Merah’s father insisted at that time he would not “shut up” after saying he wanted to sue over the brutal death of his son.